This learning resource gives students the opportunity to investigate relevant environmental issues both locally and overseas linking to the VELS standards for level 3: "They describe natural physical and biological conditions, and human influences in the environment, which affect the survival of living things." (2008). As a class, or individually, students can pledge their support for different issues.
The home page of the site displays a learning focus which is updated each month, as well as offering a list of topics from previous months.
Below are examples of the resources available from this site:
Students have the option to contact the site's authors with questions and therefore learn about using appropriate language for requesting information. They might also use the options on each page to send information from the site to friends through email, twitter or facebook.
"Act 4 Nature is a joint initiative involving Zoos Victoria, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Museums Victoria, Sustainability Victoria, Parks Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens and the Municipal Association of Victoria."
Not only is it a local site that connects to local groups, the groups are leading experts on the local environment, making the site a resource with enough links to give students a range of authoritative researching options. Hence, it also provides a learning opportunity for students about finding reputable resources.
The resource is easy to navigate because of its large text and appealing visuals. My main concern would be the heavy demands on literacy skills. If possible, I would have students work in pairs composed of lower and higher literacy skilled students.
Learning outcomes could be assessed through a resulting project. Students might take notes from the site to create a written or digital assessment task, for example.
It is advertisement free, free to view and would be easily accessed by students at the same time without being concerned about overloading the school's system capacity.
Overall, I would recommend the site, although it might be challenging in terms of the literacy skills required. I like the ongoing nature of the learning focuses. It's a site that can be returned to regularly to find new information. I like the links it offers too that encourage students to take an active approach to the environmental issues. This develops their higher thinking skills. It could be improved by adding some interactive features, such as activities, podcasts and videos, as well as adding some information about differing views on the topics from different sources to give the issues a more balanced, informed opinion. I would give this site four stars!
Resource 4: Act4Nature
Source: Act4Nature. Image retrieved May 11, 2010 from http://www.act4nature.org.au/About-Act4Nature.html.
Below are examples of the resources available from this site:
"Act 4 Nature is a joint initiative involving Zoos Victoria, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Museums Victoria, Sustainability Victoria, Parks Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens and the Municipal Association of Victoria."
Overall, I would recommend the site, although it might be challenging in terms of the literacy skills required. I like the ongoing nature of the learning focuses. It's a site that can be returned to regularly to find new information. I like the links it offers too that encourage students to take an active approach to the environmental issues. This develops their higher thinking skills. It could be improved by adding some interactive features, such as activities, podcasts and videos, as well as adding some information about differing views on the topics from different sources to give the issues a more balanced, informed opinion. I would give this site four stars!
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